Internet Security Alliance Endorses Cyber Security Legislation

Friday, November 18, 2011

Internet Security Alliance President Larry Clinton praised the new direction on cyber security legislation that was signaled in a pair of new letters from Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and 4 key Senate Republican leaders.

"I note with great enthusiasm Majority Leader Reid's comment that the bill he intends bring to the floor is 'fully consistent' with the recently released House Task Force Report on Cyber Security," Clinton said.

"The House Cyber Security Task Force Report highlights the need to create a menu of economic incentives for the private sector to enhance its cyber security, rather than creating a large and unspecified regulatory apparatus at the Department of Homeland Security," Clinton continued.

"A bill, or bills, that follow the House Task Force blueprint could gather sufficient support to pass both Houses of Congress and implement a range of actions leading to immediate improvements in our nation's cyber security posture," Clinton said.

Clinton also had high praise for the letter to President Obama that was crafted by 4 senior Senate Republican leaders: Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; Saxby Chambliss, Vice Chair of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and Lisa Murkowski, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"The four senior Republicans have outlined precisely the path that we ought to be following. We ought to work immediately to enact the pragmatic changes they have outlined so that we can quickly improve our nation's cyber security while continuing to work on more complicated issues for which consensus has not yet been achieved," Clinton said.

"We can't afford to hold tangible improvements to our nation's cyber security hostage to more immature proposals that may cause more harm than good. Congress needs to address this issue immediately, but pragmatically," Clinton stated.